How Did Communism Start

How Did Communism Start?
How did Communism start? Communism, also known as Marxism or "Revolutionary Proletarian Socialism," is an economic and political philosophy. The summation of Communism is contained within the text of The Communist Manifesto, published by Karl Marx in 1848, and based on Friedrich Engels' first draft, Principles of Communism. Karl Marx (1818-1883) and Friedrich Engels (1820-1895) authored The Communist Manifesto at the request of the Communist League, a revolutionary society in Europe to which both men held membership.

The primary purpose of The Communist Manifesto was to outline the theory of Class Struggle and incite the Proletarian to revolt. Furthermore, it was to define a more ideal form of government, whose economic policy would do away with the Bourgeoisie class, thus freeing the Proletariat from the yoke of their Bourgeoisie "masters."

Essentially, The Communist Manifesto was an outcry against the adverse poverty of the Proletariat class.

How Did Communism Start?
Communism started because Marx, Engels, and other communist thinkers saw problems in society due to the unequal distribution of wealth. To usher in a utopian society for everyone, the distinctions between the rich and poor classes must be removed. Since the rich class will never give up their property and power voluntarily, a revolution of the poor, working class is necessary.

Communism is a socio-economic philosophy that maintains violent struggle is necessary to achieve a utopian, classless society. Whereas capitalism is a socio-economic system based on individual rights (and individual wealth), communism was created to be the direct opposite. Communism proposes equality (goal) through force (means). Individual rights and private property are lost to absolute government control for the ultimate benefit of the collective.

Communism dismisses religion as the “opiate of the people,” and embraces atheism as part of its socio-economic philosophy. Religion was part of the capitalist system designed by the rich to maintain power over the poor. Therefore, communism requires that religion be removed.